Subaru BRZ review
- Thread starter Dagnut
- Start date
Rob Spec C
Octane Boostaholics
Looks like a winner alright 
RCM have one over there I think so would be interesting to see if they are planning turbo kits for it
RCM have one over there I think so would be interesting to see if they are planning turbo kits for it
bandriszal
Petrolheads
Sweetcakes said:would be interesting to see if they are planning turbo kits for it
there You go
Linders Toyota in Chapelizod have a red GT86 in the showroom window. I have been looking at it every evening on my way home for the past month and I think I have finally come to some conclusions on this car.
I have two problems with this car. Firstly, it is seriously underpowered. It is coming out of the factory with nowhere near 197 bhp. I have read this in lots of road tests and now Litchfield have confirmed it in their blog on their BRZ build. Secondly, it looks really bland and is more like a last generation Hyundai Coupe as I dreaded it would be.
On the plus side the GT86's looks are much improved with the Toyota TTE bodykit, 18 inch wheels and big brake kit but this pushes the price in the UK to almost 30K and for that kind of money it is hopelessly out of its depth. Even at its basic price a Renaultsport Megane 265 cup runs rings around it. In its current form the BRZ/GT86 is unfortunately overhyped, overpriced, underpowered and underwhelming.
I have two problems with this car. Firstly, it is seriously underpowered. It is coming out of the factory with nowhere near 197 bhp. I have read this in lots of road tests and now Litchfield have confirmed it in their blog on their BRZ build. Secondly, it looks really bland and is more like a last generation Hyundai Coupe as I dreaded it would be.
On the plus side the GT86's looks are much improved with the Toyota TTE bodykit, 18 inch wheels and big brake kit but this pushes the price in the UK to almost 30K and for that kind of money it is hopelessly out of its depth. Even at its basic price a Renaultsport Megane 265 cup runs rings around it. In its current form the BRZ/GT86 is unfortunately overhyped, overpriced, underpowered and underwhelming.
Dagnut, No I didn't drive it as I would have no interest in driving it like a lunatic just to get a bit of oversteer.
Linders are looking for 42k for their GT86 which is a joke for something so underpowered and bland. Subaru UK were selling sti 320r saloons for £26k last month which is in the same price ball park as the BRZ. You would want to have your head examined to take a BRZ over an STI 320R. I get that it is a driver's car but only if you are driving like a complete arse which is dangerous and stupid on public roads. As a track car, a second hand Elise would run rings around it as would any M3. Its a marketing exercise, beloved of motoring journalists who only care about going sideways but in the real world I really believe you would get sick to death of having to cane the life out of it just to get some limited thrills out of driving it. As I said a Megane 265 would be a better choice in every way road, track, sound and to my eye at least looks.
It is nice to see the new Audi S3 and BMW M135i putting out 300 bhp and 45+ mpg but depressing as it sounds (pun intended) the future of EVO cars in Ireland is probably diesel.
Linders are looking for 42k for their GT86 which is a joke for something so underpowered and bland. Subaru UK were selling sti 320r saloons for £26k last month which is in the same price ball park as the BRZ. You would want to have your head examined to take a BRZ over an STI 320R. I get that it is a driver's car but only if you are driving like a complete arse which is dangerous and stupid on public roads. As a track car, a second hand Elise would run rings around it as would any M3. Its a marketing exercise, beloved of motoring journalists who only care about going sideways but in the real world I really believe you would get sick to death of having to cane the life out of it just to get some limited thrills out of driving it. As I said a Megane 265 would be a better choice in every way road, track, sound and to my eye at least looks.
It is nice to see the new Audi S3 and BMW M135i putting out 300 bhp and 45+ mpg but depressing as it sounds (pun intended) the future of EVO cars in Ireland is probably diesel.
Neelie
Active member
FRAWLS said:
fully agree with this.
now, i havent driven them but just putting the hype into proportion with the figures that are on the brochure i cant see why these cars are being fussed about so much. the design isnt even that thrilling... nice, but not thrilling imo. there are far better cars out there for that sort of money. is it that ppl's expectations were very high, not met and now are not admitting to being disappointed by both the brz and the gt86.
FRAWLS said:
The point is you don't need to be going that fast to get it to move around...it's has the completely the opposite ethos to a rally rep...I've driven the 320r ( haven't got a chance to drive the BRZ) and it's a nice car but it feels old fashioned...you be hard pressed to see where 10 years of development have gone between that and a even a bug eye.
Yes the Elise would whip it round a track but the Elise is practically next to useless apart from the track...the appeal of this car is you can take it shopping keep the missus happy and if the mood takes you have a bit of crack on the track or to country roads...no you won't be the quickest out there but you'll be having a laugh.
Harris had it in company with a 370z and a used Cayman s...tells you how highly he rates it. It is probably underpowered but it's the first incarnation and it will get faster and better.
Megane is a different car, I have to say but the M135I at 30k (uk prices) would be very hard to ignore
I have read so many reviews about the BRZ that all say you have to be going pretty hard to get the rear to kick out as its tyres are too grippy on the road. On the track the tyres are perfect as they go off pretty quickly so you can tempt black flags at every bend if that's your thing.
The BRZ is just too ordinary looking and unless you are really caining it, it is just plain slow and the engine note is irritating. I would take a 340R over it any day of the week if I had to pick between the two. If I wanted something fast, fun and in the sub 42k price bracket I would go for the Megane 265 cup. It is incredible to drive, better looking and far more practical. They are comparable cars despite their obvious drivetrain differences.
As a car to live with an Elise is a major compromise but you could pick up a gen 1 cheaply and have endless fun in one and have a daily driver for everything else rather than forking out €42k for a BRZ just to take it on track a few times a year and then have to put up with getting smoked by everything on the road and having to constantly explain that no it is no a Hyundai!
Like all motoring hacks they eulogize over certain hotly anticipated cars on their first write ups but if you ;look at what the motoring press writes about these types of cars 12 months on, it is completely different. My guess is that the BRZ and GT86's honeymoon period will be short lived although I really hope it is a runaway success as you have to admire the brands for making a car like this nowadays.
Agreed on the M135i although it is even uglier than the last one. I still haven't read a proper in dept full road test of the new Audi S3 but I am hoping the new MQB platform, longer wheelbase, engine moved forward and tilted back and serious diet will have a transforming impact on the usual nose led stance. 47mpg and unbelievably low emissions for a 300bhp car make it as relevant to the tiny Irish new performance car enthusiasts as a new STI or EVO is irrelevant.
The BRZ is just too ordinary looking and unless you are really caining it, it is just plain slow and the engine note is irritating. I would take a 340R over it any day of the week if I had to pick between the two. If I wanted something fast, fun and in the sub 42k price bracket I would go for the Megane 265 cup. It is incredible to drive, better looking and far more practical. They are comparable cars despite their obvious drivetrain differences.
As a car to live with an Elise is a major compromise but you could pick up a gen 1 cheaply and have endless fun in one and have a daily driver for everything else rather than forking out €42k for a BRZ just to take it on track a few times a year and then have to put up with getting smoked by everything on the road and having to constantly explain that no it is no a Hyundai!
Like all motoring hacks they eulogize over certain hotly anticipated cars on their first write ups but if you ;look at what the motoring press writes about these types of cars 12 months on, it is completely different. My guess is that the BRZ and GT86's honeymoon period will be short lived although I really hope it is a runaway success as you have to admire the brands for making a car like this nowadays.
Agreed on the M135i although it is even uglier than the last one. I still haven't read a proper in dept full road test of the new Audi S3 but I am hoping the new MQB platform, longer wheelbase, engine moved forward and tilted back and serious diet will have a transforming impact on the usual nose led stance. 47mpg and unbelievably low emissions for a 300bhp car make it as relevant to the tiny Irish new performance car enthusiasts as a new STI or EVO is irrelevant.